The main project aim was to create the first BirdLife International Youth Leaders Council and to strengthen volunteering and youth engagement at national and international level. This council is and will be used as a mechanism to improve engagement of young people in environmental issues, including those with fewer opportunities, providing recommendations to BirdLife International on young people’s environmental priorities and finally creating and implementing a series of meaningful actions decided by the youth to protect nature.
In the partnership, we felt that “It’s time” to get young people more involved and contributing effectively in the fight against the biodiversity and climate crisis. According to the United Nations, we have a decade to take action before it is too late. Generation Z are often seen as victims, rather than valid contributors who can make a difference (Rousell, D and Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, A (2019) A systematic review of climate change education: giving children and young people a ‘voice’ and a ‘hand’ in redressing climate change. Children’s Geographies. ISSN 1473- 3277) Throughout the project, our goal was to offer tangible ways for young people to take action, ensuring that their generation has a voice and can be more effective in the ongoing and future fight against biodiversity and the climate crisis. In the BirdLife Network of 120 countries involved, we are promoting a platform for young people to do this and we can give them the skills and competences to increase awareness in their communities by having young people at the centre of decision- systemic changes needed to reduce and improve the environmental crisis.